J~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Kyoya pulled back from my lips, looked directly into my eyes, and said, "I will win you back."

I rose slowly, determinedly.

SMACK! Kyoya looked stunned as he reached for the red print on his cheek.

My face blazed with fury: My eyes burned with hurt. But, my voice conveyed the pain, confusion, and unutterable sadness of all the heartbreak leading up to this moment. "Get out."

Kyoya hung his head in shame, something I thought I'd never see. He then bowed deeply to me, "I'm so-"

"Don't even say you're sorry," I cut him off.

Rising, he grabbed his jacket and strode to the door. Only once I was sure he was off the small porch did I go lock the door after him.

I let out a deep sigh and looked around my empty apartment. "I knew something like this would happen, but I never thought he'd be so heartless and calculating that he would do that to me." I brushed my ear, trying to remove the remnants of his whispers. He used Jackson's words to force my confidence. That's what he wanted, yes? He wanted my trust. He certainly won't get it now. The dishes were left on the table untouched, and I began to clear them away.

I warned myself when I made this bargain that he would rip my heart out. Why do I never listen? There's only one thing that can calm me down right now, a little jazz. I grabbed a Miles Davis record and placed it on the turntable. As Miles's sad melodies quieted my nerves, I turned my thoughts to the matter at hand. What the heck was he thinking?! He found out. Was he frustrated that I hadn't told him? Did he come over with the intent to ask and just decide that if I was reminded that I'd tell him myself? Does he think that forcing a confidence that way is okay?

Crack. The plate I had been washing sat broken in the sink, a product of pressing too hard while scrubbing. Really? Jeez. Worst night ever.

"Miss Mooreson?"

I looked up from the cracked ceramic. Hotta had come out of his hiding place in the back. "Yes, sir?"

"I heard something. Is everything alright?" He looks like he heard more than the plate. Sigh.

"Everything is fine. I just broke a plate being absentminded."

"May I help you? It looks like you've got a lot to clean up."

My eyes brimmed again, and I blinked back the drops. He's so kind. "Thank you, Hotta. I'll take you up on that."

"Very well, miss. Let me clean up the plate. You put the food away, and I'll wash." Hotta was being extra sweet that night. He really is like a dad, isn't he? I smiled in relief.

We had nearly finished the dishes, Hotta washing and I drying, before he spoke again. "I know it's not my place to say such things, miss, but I heard the two of you earlier." He paused to let me interject, but I kept silent. Hotta continued, "Ohtori-sama isn't used to not having his way, to not knowing everything."

I puffed at that, and Hotta chuckled.

"You and I know our boundaries, but Ohtori-sama never has. When he cares for someone, he goes to any lengths to protect them."

"There are some lines that should never be crossed," I said flatly.

"You're right. I don't know what he did just now, but I understand that he hurt you. He's never been a rash one." I glanced at him in surprise. Then what would you call that little performance? "I can see how that would surprise you. His behavior toward you these last months surprises me, too. Mind you, he does make quick decisions, but those decisions are always based on firm intel." He chuckled again as he began putting away the newly dried dishes. "When he assigned me to guard you, I was surprised. He's never assigned one of his personal guard to anyone. I suggested that he create a new detail for you, but Ohtori-sama was insistent that you have what he considered the best. So, here I stand.

"The first day I followed you, I realized why he has been acting this way. You are a woman of integrity, merit, and courage. Most people think we security don't pay attention to our charges beyond their safety, but that's wrong. In order to keep you safe, I have to know you, so I've been watching carefully. You're heart has been broken. It's easy to tell."

How? I froze, rag poised over the countertop. Hotta responded to my unspoken question.

"No, I don't know how it was broken, but it's written all over your actions that it's the case. You're guarded. You put up walls to block any attempts on your heart. You protect yourself and try not to let anyone help you. You keep your secrets unless forced to tell." He gave a half smile. "See, if you know what to look for, it's not hard to read people."

I stared at him incredulously. "I guess it's hard to plug your ears and close your eyes all the time, and it would make for frighteningly bad security." I breathed deeply.

"Indeed, miss.

"Why are you saying all this, Hotta?"

"I said all that to let you know that I understand some of Ohtori-sama's motives, but if you haven't figured it out yet, then it's not my place to tell you. However, his brash behavior of this evening was not his intent at all. I can guarantee you that whatever went down before he left was meant to have been broached differently." Throughout this unusually long conversation, Hotta had maintained his ever pleasant, reassuring composer.

"How can you be sure?" I was uncertain.

"Because, as I said before, I know his motives, and those are in both of your best interest." He put the last dish away. "Now, miss, I'll go guard the door until Baba gets here."

"Thank you, Hotta. I appreciate what you've said." But, do I really? I'm still livid with Kyoya, and it'll take a long time for me to reconcile what he's done.

Within the hour, Hotta's replacement arrived. This particular guard didn't know my usual evening routine or me at all. I played that to my advantage and slipped out my back window. I'm so done with this.

K~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I didn't go to my car after leaving Judy's apartment. I needed to walk for a bit, so I headed to the park down the road.

That was the stupidest thing I could have done! How will I get her back? Things were going very well until I did that. Boneheaded move, Ohtori. I thought back to the moment at the table. I had been frustrated that she still hadn't told me about Jackson out right. I had planned to just tell her that I had found out about Jackson, but I really wanted her to open up to me. I asked why she had come to Japan, but instead of answering me truthfully she tried to feed me the same crap she told everyone else. When she avoided my questions, something inside me snapped. Before I knew what I was doing, I had grabbed her wrist and pulled her down. It just got so out of hand so fast.

I can't give her time to calm down. She has to know how much I care now, but she wouldn't accept my apologies. She was livid when I kissed her. My mind blew up. Oh. No. She equated my kiss and apology with the abusive behavior of her ex. I had done the research on abusive patterns, and that was one of them: abuse, apologize, honeymoon. I really am a fool.

I sat down and watched the last vestiges of dusk disappear. My pocket began to buzz, but instead of answering, I turned it off. I'm not sure how long I sat there staring into the horizon, but when I came to and checked the time, my phone showed five missed calls and twenty texts all from Hotta. My adrenaline started pumping as I scrolled through the messages.

"Sir, please answer", "Urgent!", and "Missing," were among the more prominent missives. Geez! What has she done now? I listened to the first voice mail.

"Sir, Miss Mooreson left her home during our shift change. She slipped out the back window. I sent two men to track her." The last voice mail said, "We found Miss Mooreson. She's perfectly safe. Baba is standing guard."

I sighed in relief. At least, she's safe. I called Hotta's line immediately.

"Hotta." The greeting was brief.

"Where is she?"

"We trailed her to the Haninozuka estate."

"What's she doing there?" A strange panic bubbled in my conscious.

"I have no idea, sir; but I'd recommend leaving her be for the night." Hotta sounded less than professional.

"Are you angry with me, Hotta?" Curious.

"I've known you your whole life, sir; but I know my place." He's disappointed. Hotta hung up before I could ask him why he was upset.

So, she's visiting Hani. I called my driver to pick me up. When he arrived I gave him the single command of, "The Haninozuka estate."

R&R. I need feedback on the last two chapters. And, thanks to mst88 for the great description of Kyoya's behavior. It is now part of this story's canon.